no more paper paychecks?!

[cloudsoup]

so, i just started a new retail job and during my training
the manager was explaining how often we were paid and
such... and then hands me a visa debit/credit card, and
apparently this is how i'll be receiving my pay. the company
loads the card with your earnings...

he said that it was not his decision, of course, but a corporate
method of going "paperless". he also mentioned that the current
employees were being made to switch to direct deposit.

...um. yeah.

[aimeerose00]

If you already have a checking account, can't you just choose direct deposit too?

[jusu]

It's a real pain. Make sure you find out how many ATM transactions are free. After so many, some hit you with the ATM fee. Having to pay a fee to get your own hard earned money is just wrong.

[Alyia72]

Ive noticed this is a growing trend for employers.. Does this card have fees or minimum withdrawal amounts? If that's the case I would promptly be requesting direct deposit as well.  Although a lot of banks these days charge for that too.   But then again if you try to cash a check anywhere but your own bank you suffer fees too so I guess that's unavoidable when not using a bank.   My hubby's previous employer forced him into direct deposit not to long ago.  He didn't like it one bit as he was then paid a day later than everyone else when he was told he would be paid actually a day earlier.  His new employer still gives out paper checks although I think this time I would prefer direct deposit as the checks are mailed to his employer and our mail here is often slow.  I think its great going paperless in attempts to be environment friendly and all but I think it should be a choice made by the employee not forced by the employer.  After a while of doing the direct deposit they decided to go even farther into the paperless world and decided to stop giving him his pay stubs which was a big pain in the butt.  Any time we needed paystubs for something it was off to the library to print them and pay for the printing.

[ancmetro]

  I still like old-fashioned paper paychecks because you can keep the stubs to personally verify payments. The problems with plastic payment cards are ATM fees and computer glitches.

[cloudsoup]

  I still like old-fashioned paper paychecks because you can keep the stubs to personally verify payments. The problems with plastic payment cards are ATM fees and computer glitches.

i know.

heh, computer glitches.

oops! we forgot to pay you on time,
and now your account is overdrawn, and now
you have to pay for the overdrawn fees and
wait until we gradually pluck our heads from
our asses to sort everything out for you...

[Administrator]

Wal-Mart, the nation's biggest employer, also made this decision (to force paper check employees to use an ATM/debit card for their earnings).  I think it's a pretty crummy thing to do.  Their card only has one free ATM withdrawal per pay period, which means you probably cannot even withdraw all of your money without paying a fee.  Oh, but they let you get cash back if you use the card to buy something at Wal-Mart.  It's a pretty big ripoff.

[dreamyxo]

I prefer direct deposit.  It allows you to save more because you're not tempted to spend it when you get the check or card in your hot little hands.  Do they have direct deposit as an option?  If so I would get that instead of the card.  What if the card gets lost or stolen will they put the money back?  I doubt it.

[southernhorizons]

So far, I have never worked for a company that does this. But when I was on unemployment, my "checks" were actually just money deposited to a debit card. However, I could get the money out at my bank for free, (from a teller), to avoid ATM fees.

[oldbuddy]

Wal-Mart, the nation's biggest employer, also made this decision (to force paper check employees to use an ATM/debit card for their earnings).  I think it's a pretty crummy thing to do.  Their card only has one free ATM withdrawal per pay period, which means you probably cannot even withdraw all of your money without paying a fee.  Oh, but they let you get cash back if you use the card to buy something at Wal-Mart.  It's a pretty big ripoff.

I would be buying a lot of bubble gum.

[arms1977]

There are many comapnies now going paperless. Most aren't forcing their employees to use one card, but I have heard of it. I suggest getting a program like Quicken to keep track of your expenses, since I doubt you got a register or will be receiving statements.